The Porter Town Council introduced an ordinance Tuesday aimed at
standardizing residential sewer rates. A public hearing will be conducted
Nov. 12.

The change designates 1-inch water meters as residential; under the current
ordinance only 5/8 and 3/4-inch meters are so classified. The shift will
save homes with 1-inch meters about $25 a month on their base sewer rate;
customers also pay an additional treatment rate based on water consumption.

A problem arose this fall when it was learned residential customers with
1-inch meters had not been charged the higher rate. Bills for overdue
charges were sent, some approximately $1,300 per customer, and those
residents asked the Town Council for relief.

Council members said collection of the back-billing temporarily would be
halted while the ordinance was changed but payment plans would have to be
worked out because the billing couldnít be waived.

A few commercial customers also were hit with back-billed sewer charges when
the size of their water meters was confirmed. Westchester Public Libraryís
Hageman Library in Porter was notified of an outstanding $3,972 balance. The
Library Board took no action on the bill.

In other council business Tuesday, Public Works superintendent Brenda
Brueckheimer said the new Porter Avenue lift station went on-line and the
old one is shut down. The station pumps Porterís effluent to Chestertonís
wastewater treatment plant located in Porter. A second Porter trunk line
into the plant was part of the Porter Avenue project.

Brueckheimer said a grand opening for the lift station will be planned.

The Porter Redevelopment Commission last night approved a $246,733 contract
with Woodruff & Sons to upgrade the Triangle lift station. Porter is under
an agreed order with the State of Indiana to prevent sewer overflows into
receiving waters.

The council discussed the cost of workers compensation insurance next year
and despite a 16 percent increase voted to go with current carrier Highlands
on the advice of Jim Anton of Anton Insurance. He said other quotes showed
increases of 22 and 48 percent, while three companies refused to submit
proposals.

Anton said the increase was due to a significant amount of claim dollars
paid out in 2011/12; the policy is based on a three-year claims experience.

It was announced the Porter town hall will be closed Friday from 8 a.m. to
10 a.m. for an OSHA seminar. The town hall also will be closed Nov. 6 for
off-site software training.

Porter residents were reminded childrenís Halloween Trick or Treat will be
Oct. 31 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., the same time throughout the tri-town
Duneland area.